help bg

Keats Blog

Keats Blog offers great information about Chinese language learning, Chinese culture, Mandarin Chinese, and information about China.
Go Back

5 REASONS TO STUDY CHINESE IN YUNNAN

Yunnan is a province in southwestern China known for its beautiful landscapes and diverse citizens.

The province is situated in a mountainous area with high elevations in the northwest and lower elevations in the southwest. More than 45 million people called Yunnan home.

It may seem like an odd place to study Mandarin because it’s not the big city, but living in the southern part of China, in a smaller city, could actually benefit your Mandarin learning. In this blog post, we’ll share with you why you should study Chinese in Yunnan out of all places in China.

DIVERSE POPULATION


Yunnan is known for its very high level of ethnic diversity. Out of all the provinces and regions of China, Yunnan has the highest number of ethnic groups. Among China’s 56 recognized ethnic groups, 25 are found in Yunnan.

These different groups live all across the province, giving people the feeling of being well represented when deciding to learn Chinese in Yunnan. About 38% of the province’s population are members of minorities.

With such a diverse population, you’ll experience a diverse set of languages and people. Every person you meet, whether they’re local or not, will have a story to tell. You’ll be able to learn more about the culture in Yunnan through the residents living there.

LANGUAGES


Most dialects of the Chinese language spoken in Yunnan are forms of Mandarin, the most spoken language in the world.

Mandarin is the largest of the seven Chinese dialect groups and it’s spoken by more than 70% of Chinese speakers.

Since you’ll be studying Chinese in Yunnan, you’ll be able to adventure out of your school and interact with the locals. Chatting in Mandarin with local Yunnan citizens may be hard at first, but it will give you real-world experience practicing your skills.

Don’t be taken aback if the locals correct you. Think of it as a school field trip and when you’re exploring, focus on speaking only Mandarin and using words that you’ve been practicing in the classroom.

One positive about living in smaller cities in Yunnan, compared to the big city life, is that locals will stop and talk to you. Yes, everyone is busy, but Yunnan is known for its residents welcoming and friendly to tourists and ex-pats.

ACCREDITED SCHOOLS


The capital of Yunnan is Kunming, a city known for its eternal spring-like weather. Kunming is also known for its Mandarin language school, Keats Chinese.

Keats School was founded in 2004 by Xue Feng and has since become one of the top Chinese language schools in China.

More than 40% of students return to Keats to continue their Mandarin Chinese journey because they have found success in learning Chinese in Yunnan. Many students who started their Mandarin language learning in bigger cities and schools transfer to Keats because of the reputation and Kunming lifestyle.

Keats School is accredited by the Provincial Education Department and the Kunming Education Department. This means that the teaching quality is checked by the education department every year. Many schools in China are not accredited.

Students can be assured that if they’re learning Mandarin in Yunnan at Keats, they will be learning from top-quality teachers at a top-quality school.

THE ADVENTURES AWAIT


Known for the beautiful scenery, Yunnan has several hidden gems to explore when you’re not in school.

At Keats School, we believe in increasing your fluency in Mandarin. Not only do you need to be in a classroom, but you also need to be in public. During your weekends without classes, we encourage our students to get out and explore the city of Kunming and the province of Yunnan.

Yunnan is full of history, and it’s a great place for you to deepen your understanding of Chinese culture.

We wrote a full blog post about where to go in Kunming when you’re not studying. In Yunnan, be sure to explore Shangri-la, which has been regarded as one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Tibetan Buddhism.

If you’re not sure where to start when planning weekend adventures, contact Keats School. We have a Study + Tour option and would be happy to help you plan your Chinese travel bucket list.

AIR QUALITY


When you think of China, images may flash in your mind of bad air quality and people wearing masks everywhere. For many, these images rule out the thought of ever studying Mandarin in China.

But, we’re here to tell you that that’s not the case in Yunnan. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, experiences some of the lowest levels of air pollution in China.

Kunming’s air quality index usually rests around 43, or good. In comparison, larger cities like Beijing rest around 60, or moderate/unhealthy.

These numbers do change daily. By visiting Numbeo, you can review pollution numbers closer to the date of your departure. But, one thing’s sure, you won’t be needing a mask if you’re planning to learn Mandarin and live in Yunnan.

TIME TO BUY YOUR TICKET


Yunnan has seen an increase in popularity with study abroad students. People realize that Yunnan is home to one of the best Mandarin language schools in China. The province has beautiful weather, and the diverse population could come in handy when studying Mandarin.

If you have not decided where to live when learning Chinese in Yunnan, Kunming should come up to the top of your list. To learn more about Kunming and Keats School, visit our blog.

If you’re ready to call Keats home, apply directly on our website. See you soon!

Related Articles

Which Chinese Language Program
is right for you?

PROGRAMS

Rients's Story at Keats Kunming, My Second Hometown

OVER 7300+ STUDENTS HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

Claudia

Claudia | Australia

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I’ve been at Keats school and Kunming now for one month doing the one-on-one Chinese lessons with two different teachers. I really enjoy it. Both of my teachers are very friendly and patient. They really helped me to improve my Chinese, both of my reading and speaking. I really enjoy studying Chinese in Kunming as well. This city is really beautiful and the weather is nice, the air is clean. It’s one of the best cities in China to study Chinese.

Alibaba

Alibaba | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

Kunming is a fantastic city. The weather here is great. The school is excellent. The instructors are very helpful, very friendly. I strongly recommend that anybody who is looking for a Chinese language school in China come here to study. Kunming and Keats school are much better than any other place.

Sarah

Sarah | Dubai

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

My teachers are all excellent. They trained the teachers so professionally. I feel like I learn very quickly with my teacher. They are very serious about their students and I know every teacher is like this. I would highly recommend that you come to Keats if you are looking for the best Chinese school in China.

Steve

Steve | UK

Small Group Chinese Class

I really enjoy coming here because it is like kind of a home for me. It is a great environment to learn Mandarin Chinese in China and meet great people from all over the world. Everyone here is extremely friendly. Kunming has a really nice climate. It is a very good mix of the modern city and also a lot of historic Chinese culture. Probably got the cleanest air in China and possibly the cleanest water too. I invite you to come to study Chinese in Kunming.

Filbert

Filbert | Indonesia

Small Group Chinese Class

Before I came to Keats School, I had no confidence in my Chinese proficiency. I did not have the confidence to speak Mandarin Chinese and chat with Chinese people. However, after 4 months of study at Keats, I become more and more confident in speaking Chinese now. Studying Chinese in China at Keats School has been the best decision I have ever made. There are many games in the class, and my teacher’s teaching methods are also very interesting. My experience at Keats School has changed my view of China and Chinese people.

 

Emiliano

Emiliano | Mexico

Small Group Chinese Class

I come to Kunming because I think the environment in Kunming is better and I heard that Keats School is better. I like the small group Chinese class because my classmates study hard and our teachers are very good. I like the teaching method of Keats because I like the activities at Keats. I think Yunnan is a particularly beautiful Chinese province.

 

Richard

Richard | UK

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

This is my second time coming. Last year, I also came for about 12 weeks. This time I came for 13 weeks of a summer program in China. The reason why I particularly want to come to this school was because of the one-on-one classes. I was able to increase my level and learn Chinese more quickly than in group classes. If I have a chance again to come next year, I certainly will.

Sarah

Sarah | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

My name is Sarah Fish. I am 81. I knew very little Chinese when I arrived. How was I going to survive 2 weeks of intensive Chinese course? I have to laugh when I think of that now. What a positive experience this has been! I really wish we could be here a little longer. The teachers are extremely encouraging, evaluating first how much someone knows, and then starting from there.

Please use vertical scrolling on your mobile device.